Sub-ambient Pressure Infusion Pump Using Elastomeric Reflex
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulin infusion pumps rely on mechanical pressure or peristaltic mechanisms, which can be cumbersome and costly, and often require mechanical pumps to administer fluid medicaments, whereas sub-ambient pressures and elastomeric reflex forces are underutilized for efficient infusion.
Innovation Solution
A portable infusion pump system utilizing a collapsible bag, an elastomeric fluid channel, and a pressure shell to create sub-ambient pressures, combined with an elastomeric reflex mechanism, where a pinch/squeeze mechanism and controller coordinate the infusion volume and pressure equilibration to ensure efficient fluid delivery without mechanical pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical pressure or peristaltic mechanisms are used to infuse fluid medicament, then reliable fluid delivery is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical pump component from the infusion system entirely. Instead, it extracts and utilizes the elastic properties of the fluid channel itself to create the pumping action through cyclic compression and relaxation, thereby achieving fluid delivery without complex mechanical pumping mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric fluid channel serves dual functions: it acts as both the fluid conduit and the pumping mechanism. The channel's inherent elastic properties enable it to autonomously generate pumping action through temperature-induced volume changes, eliminating the need for external mechanical pumps or complex control systems
2Measurement precision
If mechanical pumps are used to generate pressure on fluid medicament, then accurate infusion is achieved, but weight and portability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pump system with a thermally-driven elastic deformation mechanism. Temperature changes induce volume changes in the elastomeric fluid channel, creating pressure variations that drive fluid infusion without requiring heavy mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes temperature as a controllable parameter to drive fluid infusion. By cycling the temperature of the elastomeric fluid channel, the system achieves precise control over fluid delivery rate and volume, maintaining infusion accuracy while minimizing device weight
3Productivity
If sub-ambient pressures are applied to collapsible bag, then elastomeric reflex forces are enhanced for pumping, but pressure control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the collapsible bag and elastomeric channel to self-regulate pressure through their inherent mechanical properties. The bag's collapse and the channel's elastic recovery automatically generate the necessary pressure variations for pumping, without requiring complex active pressure control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the collapsible bag function with the elastomeric fluid channel into an integrated system. The bag's collapse directly drives the channel's elastic deformation, merging the reservoir function with the pumping mechanism to achieve efficient fluid delivery with simplified pressure control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a cost-effective, portable, and efficient means of infusing fluid medicaments by leveraging sub-ambient pressures and elastomeric reflex forces, ensuring reliable and accurate delivery of insulin or other medicaments, while being easy to use and manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure sensor mounted on the pressure shell monitors chamber pressure, Pc, within the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
the reactionary forces acting within a resilient elastomeric fluid channel as it relaxes and transitions from a stressed configuration back to an unstressed configuration can also be beneficially employed to assist fluid flow
Implementation Method 3
Between its first and second ends, the fluid channel is operationally engaged with a pinch/squeeze mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A portable system and method for infusing liquid medicaments to a patient through an elastomeric fluid channel includes an airtight pressure shell for holding a collapsible bag of the fluid medicament to be infused. A pressure sensor connected to the pressure shell monitors decreases below ambient pressure inside the shell to determine when the sub-ambient pressure becomes insufficient to continue assisting the withdrawal of fluid from the collapsible bag to an external pinch/squeeze unit. An equilibration valve is synchronized with the pinch/squeeze unit to reestablish ambient pressure in the pressure shell for continued operation as the pinch/squeeze unit acts to sequentially push liquid medicament for infusion into the patient.